KotorArt and youth: Operas for babies, solo performances, youth orchestra
Crucial opportunities for talent development
Through the KotorArt Talents platform, generations of young Montenegrin musicians have been given the chance to engage in diverse projects, spanning various ensembles, chamber groups, international collaborations, and solo concerts.
A notable addition to this year's KotorArt Talents series is the introduction of the Festival Orchestra format, which will premiere on Julu 19. The orchestra consists of talented young musicians, most of whom are former KotorArt talents or participants in the Forum of Young Artists. Among them are violinists Dušan Obrenović, Luka Perazić, Vukica Rašković, Bobana Tešić, Dea Nicaj, Jelena Jovović, Teodora Kaličanin, along with cellists Teodora Uskoković, Kosta Popović, Sari Shaquiri, and other key members of the new ensemble. Through this initiative, the Festival continues its commitment to fostering informal education for youth, providing encouragement for their ongoing development, and offering Montenegrin young musicians the chance to gain valuable orchestral experience. Maestro Mladen Tarbuk will lead the orchestra in their inaugural concert, featuring performances of Benjamin Britten's Variations for String Orchestra on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10, Dmitri Shostakovich's Concerto for Piano, Trumpet, and String Orchestra, Op. 35 in C minor, as well as a piece dedicated to the late Krzysztof Penderecki, composed by Maestro Tarbuk himself.
This particular piece will be performed in the same church where Maestro Penderecki (1933-2020), one of the greatest musical minds of the 20th century, conducted in 2016. Soloists for Shostakovich's Concerto will be Montenegrin artists, pianist Simo Šišević and trumpeter Sara Lakičević. As in previous years, transportation by solar boat from Kotor and Dobrota will be arranged for a limited number of audience members attending events at the Church of Our Lady and the Church of St. Nicholas Franciscan Monastery in Prčanj.
The concept of concerts featuring an orchestra composed of musician who have previously performed at the festival through the KotorArt Talents and Young Artists Forum platforms is truly elevating the festival's entire talent landscape to a new level. I am very pleased that this orchestra will consist of my friends, undoubtedly some of the finest young string players of our generation. I believe in their unwavering commitment and professionalism, and as such, I wholeheartedly extend my invitation to all of you to attent and listen to this concert. The inclusion of the exceptional Sara Lakičević as the solo trumpeter and collaborator brings great honor and joy. The intricacies of the passages and the accomplishment of instrumental dialogue demand an artist of Sara's caliber! In this regard, I am confident that she will be unmatched, just as our collaboration will be. – expressed Simo Šišević, pianist.
The KotorArt Academy, aimed at informal education, knowledge acquisition and skills improvement is expanding this year not only for young musicians but also for young producers and cultural managers. You can fined the complete program of this year's KotorArt Academy here.
The traditional KotorArtić program, designed for children, is enriched this year with BabyArtić, as well as operas and concerts for the yougest performed by the Visoko C [High C] and Artish:Lab Associations of Artists. With these events, KotorArt implements programs for all age groups and demonstrates a high level of awareness in building and educating new audiences for art music.
The Young Artists Forum, also known as one of the most beautiful "concerts" at last year's festival, brought together young Montenegrin artists who analyzed and reflected on current topics in Montenegrin art music scene, focusing on the position of young artists. They also discussed and proposed measures that could contribute to its future improvement and development. The Forum continues this year on July 26 at the Kotor Creative Hub, focusing on the topic of copyright in the domain of art music.
Traditionally, within the KotorArt Talents platform, the best students of the Vida Matjan Primary and Secondary Music School in Kotor, as well as the best students of the University of the Montenegro Music Academy, will perform at this year's festival.
